Berry Strata Italian Berry Bread Pudding Recipes

BLUEBERRY STRATA

Steps:

• Coat a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Place 1/2 of the bread cubes in dish; top with 1 1/2 cups blueberries. Scatter cream cheese over berries. Cover with remaining bread cubes. In a mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, maple syrup, and milk. Pour egg mixture over bread in pan. Cover, and chill overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake strata, covered, for 30 minutes. Remove cover, and bake for an additional 30 minutes.
• While the strata is baking, prepare the blueberry syrup. Combine sugar, cornstarch, and water in a saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil over high heat; cook for 5 minutes. Pour in remaining 1 1/2 cups blueberries; continue cooking for 10 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in butter. Serve warm over slices of the strata.

BLUEBERRY STRATA

Steps:

• Spread half the bread cubes onto bottom of 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; cover with 1 cup blueberries, cream cheese and remaining bread.
• Whisk eggs, milk and cinnamon in medium bowl until well blended. Add 1/3 cup syrup and sugar; mix well. Pour over bread. Refrigerate 12 hours or overnight.
• Heat oven to 350ºF. Bake strata, covered, 1 hour to 1 hour 5 min. or until center is set and top is lightly browned, uncovering after 30 min.
• Bring remaining syrup and blueberries to boil in saucepan, stirring constantly; simmer on medium-low heat 1 min., stirring constantly. Serve over individual servings of strata.

BERRY BREAD PUDDINGS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375° F. Prepare eight individual soufflé cups (1-cup capacity) with cooking spray. In a large bowl, toss the bread cubes with the berries to distribute evenly. In another bowl, beat the eggs with a whisk or electric mixer on low speed until frothy. Add the sugar and beat until well blended. Add the half and half, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg and continue beating on low speed until well blended. Fill soufflé cups with bread and berry mixture, mounding it a bit on top. Pour egg mixture over the bread and berries, filling evenly to the rim.
• Place the soufflé cups in large ovenproof baking dish and pour boiling water into the dish until it reaches about halfway up the sides of the soufflé cups. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a cake tester or toothpick placed in the center of the puddings comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool. These can be made one day ahead of the shower; simply refrigerate overnight and serve at room temperature. Just before serving, dust each top with powdered sugar.

BERRY STRATA

Steps:

• Place the cheeses in a large bowl and stir together with a wooden spoon. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, mixing until completely incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the milk, strawberries, honey, cinnamon, and bread. Pour into an 8 by 10 by 2-inch casserole dish. If freezing, cover with plastic wrap and place in the freezer for 1 day and up to 1 month.
• To bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bake covered with foil for 45 minutes. Increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees F. Remove the foil and continue baking for 30 to 35 minutes.